Christmas

Christmas morning came early around here. Can you see the time on the clock-yes it does read 3:51 am. Are you kidding me? Chloe actually came in our room at 2:30 and never went back to sleep at 3:30 Tanner was up and we sent them both to his room, of course that didn't last long. Finally Landon and I decided the battle was futile and got up and got ready. We headed out to open presents at 4:00. We were done and had breakfast over by 6 so we both went back to bed for a few hours.

The kids tradition is to always look in their stockings first. Tanner's favorite thing in his was his pear, which he requested instead of an orange.

Chloe's favorite stocking treasure-oh year a THOR PEZ!!!

Here it is the bat of his dreams. He also got a new football and basketball, so Landon said he was set for the year.

Beckett made it onto the good list and he even got a stocking full of toys and treats.

Landon and I got our main gift early due to necessity-it was a new computer. I got the newest photoshop program to go with it, since the old one wasn't compatible with windows 8. I also got my 2011 blog book-yeah.

Chloe finally got her American Girl Doll. She has been buying clothes and accessories for it for months in hopes of getting one. Good thing Santa didn't disappoint her.

A Christmas Hug for Daddy...

Landon's present had been under the tree for a few weeks. The box was shaped like a tombstone so I had told the kids that's what it was. Chloe was a little confused about the gift until I told her I was joking, but when she handed Landon the box she said to him "here is your tombstone". Ha Ha. Here's what it really was-a new suit coat.

Here is the big surprise of the day. Tanner had originally wanted a new iPhone-we told him no, but that maybe he could get a different smart phone. However he then changed his mind and decided he wanted a new bat. Well on Christmas morning after all the unwrapping was done we kept hearing this ringing sound. We would ask Tanner what it was and he would just be like oh it's something outside and ignore it. We had to kept pestering him and finally were like Tanner go find out what that sound is. He finally got up and alas there was a package hidden behind the tv with his name on it. This isn't the best picture, but I wish I would have had a video to his reaction he was screaming and yelling with excitement. He even told me and Landon both that he love us-ha

We had a great morning. The kids really did get spoiled this year. In fact Tanner asked us why they got so much and we told him because next year it was going to be slim pickings with a new baby in tow :)

One of Chloe's gifts was a new rip-stick, she seriously spent all morning practicing on it. Towards the end of the day she was really getting the hang of it. Before long she will be riding it everywhere. She loves it though-I don't think many kids her age could even stand up on, it-and she has already learned how to turn on it. I wouldn't even dare to try I know I would hurt myself.

Tanner and Landon breaking in the new bat.

Christmas Eve

We had a nice Christmas Eve together as a family. The kids wanted to do something fun since Landon had the day of. We decided to take a little drive to Pine Valley and go sledding. The kids had fun although we only lasted about an hour before they were cold and tired and ready to go home. We were a little disappointed with the tubes, we had just bought them, and they both had holes by the time we left.

 After sledding we went to my Grandma Angie's house for a nice Christmas Eve dinner. Lots of the family was there and it was nice to visit and eat a good meal. She gave the kids their presents and we let them open them when we got home. Tanner was pretty stoked with his new BYU gear and Chloe was happy with hers especially the gift card to Wal-Mart.

 Finally it was time for Christmas Eve pajamas and bed. It thought they would never go to sleep because they were both so wound up. It turns out going to sleep wasn't the part I needed to be worried about, it was the waking up after only a few hours-haha.

Neighborhood Christmas Party

Last week on Thursday we had a little neighborhood Christmas party with some of the kids in our area. The kids had lots of fun. We made a craft and ate treats. The played a couple of fun games, including one where they made each other into snowmen with toilet paper. They also had a white elephant gift exchange. It was a good time.

Gingerbread Houses

I had bought a mini gingerbread village on clearance last year at Christmas. On Saturday a few of the neighbor boys came over along with Dave and they and the kids assembled it. They had lots of fun with it. Gingerbread houses are one of the kids favorite things to do at Christmastime. 

There's a New ELF in TOWN!

Apparently someone else took over the elfing responsibilities or maybe Ellie has just gotten a creative or mischievous streak. The past week she has been doing fun things not just changing locations. She roasted marshmallows one night-Chloe was surprised that they were even brown, another night she drew silly faces on the kids, and on Christmas eve she made a hot air balloon out of some underwear and a punching balloon. 

Sewing

 Part of one of Tanner's classes this year is sewing. He had to sew a pair of pajama pants and then they all wore them on the last day of school before we got out for Christmas break and did a big parade for everyone. Tanner did a great job on these-when Chloe saw them she was like wow there much better than I expected. HAHA. Everyday I was worried that the office was going to call me down saying that he had run is finger over with the sewing needle-luckily that didn't happen although he did poke it one day. 

Gymnastics Review

Chloe had her semi-annual gymnastics review...

She is still loving it and learning lots of new skills.

Chirstmas Party

 Last Weekend we had our annual Family Christmas Party. It includes my whole family, my uncle Brad and his family, and my Grandma Marshall. Everyone was able to make it and we had a great time. We enjoyed eating lots of yummy food...

 and hanging out and visiting with each other.

 Towards the end of the party a special visitor showed up-

 All the kids took a turn sitting on his lap-even the older boys who thought they were way to old for this :0  but they were good sports about it plus they all wanted to get their presents from him.
Even Moms, and Grandmas had to have a turn.

  Grandma stole a kiss from Santa.

 Here are all the cousins together and actually all looking at the camera. Next year the group will almost double as we will be adding 3 new ones to the bunch :)